Potential Roadblock for Permit Parking Plan
State Sen. Marty Golden and other southern Brooklyn pols are against the idea of permit parking for residents.
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The plan for residential permit parking, lauded by some residents who live near the Barclays Center arena, may not have a chance in Albany, if state Sen. Marty Golden, R–Bay Ridge, has his way.
The Brooklyn Paper reports that though City Council approved the proposal, Golden has called the idea of a voluntary permit parking system “another tax on our communities.”
“The idea that someone would have to pay to park in front of their own home is ludicrous,” Golden told the Paper.
According to the report, Golden’s view was shared by other politicians in southern Brooklyn, where vehicle ownership is more prevalent than in the neighborhoods surrounding the new arena.
Once completed, the 18,000-seat Barclays Center only has 1,1000 designated parking spots, and is expected to attract 5,600 vehicles to the area.
The permit proposal has been pushed in Albany by state Sen. Daniel Squadron, D–Brooklyn Heights, and Assemblywoman Joan Millman, D–Cobble Hill, with the support of the City Council.
Under the plan, the Department of Transportation may implement parking permits in neighborhoods that request them, and residents may then buy into the monthly pass (which does not guarantee a parking space). 20 percent of the parking spaces would still be open to non-residents for short-term parking, while commercial strips would not be affected at all.
“Residential parking permits have been desperately needed in many of our communities for a long time and increased development, especially the Atlantic Yards project, will only bring in more congestion to these neighborhoods," said Councilmember Stephen Levin, when the proposal went to Albany just a few days ago.
Joe Gonzalez
1:43 pm on Wednesday, November 9, 2011
Senator Golden should look into why local Houses of Worship (HOW) have posted traffic signs that permanently ban all parking 24/7 in front of these buildings. The lost parking spaces easily reach into the hundreds in Fort Green and Clinton Hill alone; and thousands in Brooklyn.
AnneMarie Lock
2:33 pm on Wednesday, November 9, 2011
I suppose it'd be worth paying a small fee for if it meant I was much more likely to find a spot on my block than I am now; but given the fact that only locals would really want to park in my neighborhood in the evenings when I'm looking for a spot I don't see how it would help. I'd rather have reduced alternate side parking.
NiBBLerWatch
10:29 pm on Wednesday, November 9, 2011
Actually, the idea that Marty Golden would get elected (and re-elected) to office is ludicrous.
Chicken Underwear
6:55 am on Thursday, November 10, 2011
Will this plane even affect Bay Ridge? There, some residents have driveways. This will make live better for car owners in Brownstone Brooklyn even with out the arena.
Grand Army
10:28 am on Thursday, November 10, 2011
The issue for Marty Golden is that because his constituents live further away they want their cake (local parking in Bay Ridge) and they want to eat it too (access to parking in our neighborhood so they can park-and-ride). He is defending their interests. He cares not at all about our issues in Prospect Heights and how the arena will impact street parking for local residents. But this is typical of NYC politics -- it's like the rivalries between feudal villages or ancient tribes. Uncivilized and brutal.
Eric McClure
10:58 am on Thursday, November 10, 2011
Funny, but I don't remember hypocrite Marty Golden making a stink about the billion dollars of taxpayer money going toward Atlantic Yards as being "another tax on our communities."